Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

201. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount recovered through Operation DIRT (Deposit Interest Retention Tax) in 2013 and 2014; the total amount recovered by the Operation since its inception; her views on the implementation of the Operation to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25064/15]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

202. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the top ten individual amounts recovered from social protection claimants through Operation DIRT (Deposit Interest Retention Tax) in 2014; the aggregate amount in their bank accounts; when those persons first made incorrect declarations to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25065/15]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

203. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the top ten amounts in the bank accounts of persons who have made repayments to her Department as a result of Operation DIRT (Deposit Interest Retention Tax) since it commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25066/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 to 203, inclusive, together.

The legislative provisions providing for the sharing of data for the purpose of fraud and control of social welfare schemes are contained in section 261 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. It provides that information held by another Government Department or a public body which is required for the purposes of the Act or the control of schemes may be transferred to the Department.

In one such exchange, information was provided by Revenue on persons who had paid Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) and it was clear from the interest received that they had significant amounts of capital invested whilst being in receipt of means-tested social welfare payment. On foot on this data, cases were referred for review where there was a possibility that means from financial savings had not been disclosed.

Over €21 million has been recovered from the operation to date. Details of the amount recovered in 2013 and 2014 are provided in the following table:

Recoveries 2013 and 2014:

The ten highest individual overpayment amounts recovered in 2014 ranged from approximately €68,500 to just over €140,000.

The other information requested by the Deputy relating to amounts held in individual bank accounts and dates of false declarations on individual cases are not recorded by the Department and, therefore, are not available.

Data sharing by the Department is viewed as an efficient and effective mechanism to target control related activity. It is an important preventative and detection control measure. The Department continues to examine its control practices and to introduce new measures to improve controls, wherever possible. The aim is to reduce or eliminate overpayments arising from customers receiving payments when they are no longer eligible in order to ensure that scarce resources are available to those who need them most.